The Game!

The URL of the game (25.3 MB zipped, 44.8 MB unzipped):

https://webdisk.ucalgary.ca/~nathoos/public_html/Game.zip

Instructions:
1. Save the file and unzip it.
2. Locate the Abduction.exe which is an Application file type.
3. Double click Abduction.exe to play the game.
4. Follow instructions and enjoy!
5. Only way to exit game is to press the ESC key. You cannot reset any sidegames without having to exit the game entirely.
6. Some virus protection programs (such as Kaspersky) may identify the file as a key logger. The program is SAFE and virus-free. 

Thank you for choosing to participate in our game experience!

Trials and Tribulations

Trials:

The game is now officially finished! We tested the game with a few people who were unfamiliar with our game design and took some of their suggestions to fix the game. Such suggestions included giving a more detailed description of the locations of the side games as not to make it too difficult. Also, instructions were needed for gameplay in various areas (such as how to play the Snake Game) in order to address game players who may be inexperienced or uncomfortable with the set-up. Not every suggestion was incorporated into the game because some of them were difficult to code or could not be coded such as:

  1. The x and y-coordinates are displayed above the car and if we try to disable it, more glitches occur with the movement of the car. We have yet to figure out how to remove it.

  2. When you start a side game, you cannot quit the game without restarting the game. The ESCAPE key is the only way to end the game besides getting the target number of answers correct, but it still restrats the game.

  3. In the Speed side game, you must zero in on the car, but to do so you must manipulate the cursor to the desired car. The cursor always starts from the same position (the center of the screen only) and not where the desired car is.

  4. There are minimal boundaries set up on the map so the car tends to drive over trees and rivers. However, we have found that it is still better to give the gamer a wider birth and not restrict movement on the map.

 

Tribulations:

The next step was to get the game online. This caused a lot of problems as the file size was rather large (around 70 MB). We tried to secure a URL (Rapid Share) where we could upload the game but we had some problems such as speed of the download. It would take about 20-30 minutes to download the file if you did not pay for the service. So we tried to look for other websites (000webhost.com) where you could get a free website but the file size had to be less than 5 MB so we couldn't use it. There are many webhosts that you can pay for but none of them were free.

We had been told of the WebDisk with the ucalgary.ca site being able to hold around 50 MB. So we shaved the file size down to 44.8 MB by reducing the picture size and reducing the quality of the music files without greatly changing the game. In fact, it was difficult to see any difference in quality so we were pretty happy.

Then I had the issue of trying to get the game onto the WebDisk only to find that there were several issues with my email address that I had no control over. After some time with the IT department, they were able to set everything up for me and voila! Now the game is up and I have URL for it!

Storyline Fiasco

I recently came back from vacation with a brand new tan and a more positive view on this project! The storyline is now being finalized in terms of storyboards and music selection. I am at the moment applying color to our sketches, which in turn will be scanned onto a computer and then will be inserted into the game at the beginning. Subsequently, music will be attached to the game and perhaps some form of instruction may be added to each game, if necessary. Here is a JPEG of a sketch in progress...

Side Game 3 - Ideas

The third side game is a vision test of sorts. I am attempting here to go beyond the paper test and present an opportunity for a gamer to test their reflexes and reaction times. I would like the gamer to undergo several experiences such as: obstacles running into the street at random intervals forcing the gamer to stop or slow down, a swerving maneuvering game for poor weather conditions (counter steering) and  a following too closely game where the gamer must slow down or speed up to stay at a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of them. Currently we are discussing these concepts and will start the technical preparations on a later date.

New Developments

So I went to our meeting yesterday and Fishy and I presented the parts of our game that we had developed thus far. I really enjoyed seeing the different games that were presented and to tell you the truth, it gave me ideas on what to do with my game as well. Just the possibilities...but the technical limitations sometimes inhibit these possibilities....need more research and brainstorming here.

There was a lot of feedback that really jump started the next stage of development: the second side game. Here we are presenting a tornado but this animation might change or have more animation added to it. It is still in concept mode but soon will be ironed out. The content of this game emulates the paper test, giving the gamer the opportunity to pre-take the test.

Some ideas that were presented at this meeting regarding this side game were: to standardize the questions, therefore testing the gamer's level and not just score and to perhaps give this side game as an end game, so choice is taken away but the reward comes from the last game. These are great ideas. I'm going to use the standardizing idea but the end game one can be decided upon on a later date.
 

Second Wind!

So for a few weeks in June, it was slow, but now I have my second wind! Currently I am working on another side game which is very exciting. I am working on a 3D game now which entails content very much like the paper test. The gamer will be given 30 questions of which 25 must be answered correctly to successfully complete the side game. I am hoping to have this second side game ready to go for the next meeting.

After this side game is finished, I have one more side game to program and the opening and closing sequences of the game to be designed and implemented into the game. At this point, the game will be ready for focus groups. Very exciting!!

Interim

Since June 4, I have been working slowly and painstakingly on a side game. It has been slow and sometimes boring waiting on certain aspects to fall into place. I never thought the work would plateau for a while but I guess it happens at times. :(